Shadow Roads Minister, John Turner, today condemned the Carr Labor Government in Parliament for failing to install filtration into the M5 East ventilation stack and for not intending to filter the air exiting the proposed Lane Cove and Cross City Tunnels.
Mr Turner today paved the way for a debate in NSW Parliament when he Second Read a Coalition Bill that seeks to install filtration systems.
“Despite scientific research linking life-threatening illnesses to exposure to particulate matter and air pollution, the Carr Government has continued to turn a blind eye to fact that technology is available to remove particulate matter from air exiting road tunnels.
Mr Turner said that Premier Carr and the Roads Minister, Carl Scully, should be hanging their heads in shame over their inaction.
“Mr Scully in one breath says that emissions from road tunnels will be safe and do not require filtration, but in the next admits that he would not want his family living near them,” Mr Turner said.
“It is time the Roads Minister took a serious reality check because if it is not good enough for his family, then it is certainly not good enough for any Sydney family.
“So too should the Premier hang his head in shame.
“One moment he is declaring war on ugly buildings and greenhouse gases, and in the next he is ordering the construction of monumentally ugly chimneys designed for the dumping of toxic fumes and toxic matter over the homes, schools, businesses, restaurants and indeed the people of Sydney,” he said.
Mr Turner said that he was calling on the Premier today to honour his so-called commitment to the environment by supporting this vital Coalition Bill.
“A failure to do so and he can wave goodbye to any credibility he has as ‘green Premier’,” Mr Turner said.
“The attitude of the Carr Labor Government has been one of sustained arrogance to the many people who are already, and will in the future, be affected by the fallout of particulate matter from the unfiltered M5 East, Cross City and Lane Cove Tunnels.
Mr Turner said that community interests, expert opinion, findings from a parliamentary inquiry, a critical Tunnel Workshop and thousands of petitions and letters have consistently been ignored by this complacent and insensitive Government.
“It is now time that the Carr Labor Government started listening to residents who are begging for steps to taken that will ensure they do not have to live in fear of getting sick, or see their local environment destroyed.
“The introduction of this Bill by the Coalition aims to achieve this end and do what the Carr Government has failed so miserably to do,” Mr Turner said.
For further information contact John Turner: 0427 655 321 or 9230 2196
